11-7-2024 (TAIPEI) A man in Taiwan took a female cashier hostage with a pair of scissors, sparking a five-minute standoff with police before he was eventually talked down and arrested.
The harrowing incident began around 4:34 a.m., when the man, allegedly being followed, pulled into the Xiluo Rest Stop and rushed into the convenience store, pleading with the female cashier to call the police. According to the store manager, Lin Binghong, the agitated man claimed he was being tailed and demanded the employee report the situation to the authorities.
The cashier promptly complied with the request, but as time passed without the arrival of law enforcement, the man grew increasingly volatile, accusing the employee of failing to make the call. Despite her repeated assurances that the police had been notified, the man’s emotions escalated, leading him to shout and attempt to force his way behind the counter.
Fortunately, officers arrived on the scene just as the situation was spiraling out of control. However, the man mistakenly believed the police were there to apprehend him, prompting him to grab a pair of scissors from the counter and take the cashier hostage while shouting, “You’re all fake!”
Tensions reached a fever pitch as the man threatened the officers, demanding they leave the premises. The police responded calmly, instructing bystanders and security personnel to maintain their distance while attempting to de-escalate the situation through dialogue.
“Take it easy and explain your grievances,” one officer pleaded with the man, urging him to release the cashier, who was an innocent bystander. Others employed a more subtle approach, attempting to reason with the distressed individual from a distance.
Witnesses reported that the man appeared to have lost all rationality, becoming increasingly enraged and unresponsive to attempted interventions from bystanders. After approximately 20 minutes, a police unit arrived on the scene, and a tense standoff ensued for nearly five minutes, with officers shielding themselves behind riot gear.
Finally, after persistent negotiations by law enforcement, the 33-year-old suspect, identified as Cai, agreed to release the cashier and surrender the scissors. Officers swiftly moved in and apprehended him without further incident.
According to Wang Yishuan, the chief of the criminal investigation unit of the Third Freeway Police Brigade, Cai appeared to be in an unstable mental state, which led to his erratic behavior and the hostage situation. Through patient dialogue and crisis management, the officers were able to calm Cai’s agitated state, convincing him to stand down and allow for his peaceful arrest.
The New Dunhuang convenience store expressed their gratitude to the composed cashier by presenting her with a red envelope, a gesture meant to help her recover from the traumatic experience.
